Woodstonians take in the Toronto Blue Jays against the Texas Rangers in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday April 29, 2018 during the 14th Woodstock Day. The 15th annual Woodstock Day returns April 27 against the Oakland Athletics with tickets going on sale today at 9 a.m. Jason Dunham/Special to the Sentinel-Review

The Toronto Blue Jays have started a rebuild after the team had two down years following back-to-back playoff appearances.

Regardless of the status of the team, Woodstock has continued to show up in droves. Woodstock Day will return for the 15th time when the Toronto Blue Jays host the Oakland Athletics April 27, 2019, at 3:07 p.m.

“When we go down this is an event because it’s the only game a lot of people get to throughout the year,” Brad Janssen, the city’s communications and special events manager, said. “The program’s very much in demand… We’re looking forward to another good turnout.”

The game has remained the largest attended event by a municipality with the city annually bringing more than 1,000 people to Toronto.

The Jays and baseball have a strong connection to the Friendly City.

The Tip O’Neill Award, given to the top Canadian in Major League Baseball, is named after the 19th century player from Woodstock. College Avenue Secondary School graduate Randy Redford designed a previous logo for the Blue Jays.

Ted Rogers family also lived in Woodstock for a short time and Rogers donated $1 million to Woodstock’s hospital in 2007. Nearby Beachville was also the host of the first recorded game of baseball in 1838 and Oscar “Lefty” Judd lived in Ingersoll after pitching for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1941 and 1948 was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

“With all the connections Woodstock has with not just the Toronto Blue Jays, but also baseball in general, I find it to be a bit of a badge of honour,” Janssen said. “The history we have is rich and there’s a lot of different connections, so Woodstock Day allows us to go down there and show off the city and get a lot of exposure for those who may not recognize what we mean to Major League Baseball.”

For the second year, the city will be selling tickets online after last year saw success.

Janssen said about a third of the tickets sold last year were done so online.

“It turned out to be quite successful,” Janssen said. “It’s a nice option for people who have to work the hours the box office is open.”

Brooklyne Gillespie throws out the first pitch before the Toronto Blue Jays against the Texas Rangers in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday April 29, 2018 during the 14th Woodstock Day. The 15th annual Woodstock Day returns April 27 against the Oakland Athletics with tickets going on sale today at 9 a.m. Bill Polzin/Special to the Sentinel-Review

The city created the concept of a way to make the process easier and a way to reach more people.

“Part of my job is to find ways to advocate to reach people more effectively,” the city’s web developer Jason Dunham told the Sentinel-Review last year. “It’s not a difficult sell since it’s a great deal for tickets. The price we’re offering is far better than going on your own.”

A ticket along with a ride on the bus will be $80 for a ticket that’s regularly $85. If someone just buys the ticket, it’s $62 with the city running the event as a cost recovery program so to the difference is a spot on the bus. The city gets a group deal for their tickets.

A child between five and 14 will be entered into a draw to throw out the first pitch and kids the same age are eligible to be part of the seventh inning stretch. The popular cow statues will also be outside gates at Rogers Centre and they’ll recognize a community champion before the game.

In previous years the game was at 1 p.m., but they’ll get a later start date meaning the busses will leave at about 11 a.m. and if the game’s three hours long they can expect to get back to Woodstock for 8 p.m. The game will also return to being on a Saturday after last year was a Sunday.

“It’s also six-hour endorsement for the City of Woodstock because from beginning to end we’ll be getting mentions,” Janssen said. “A big majority are repeat customers, so they appreciate the convenience and organization of the event we’ve created and we’ll continue doing it if the numbers keep showing up.”